Portfolio
AWARDS, QUALIFICATIONS & MEMBERSHIP ASSOCIATIONS
Qualifications
– Master of Legal Administration (International Business and Finance Law), Bond University, Gold Coast Queensland, AUSTRALIA.
-Juris Doctor (50% of subjects completed as at 2021), Bond University, Gold Coast Queensland, AUSTRALIA
– Doctor of Legal Science (Copyright law subject only – Research), Bond University Gold Coast Queensland, AUSTRALIA
– Certificate in Acting Techniques (NIDA) Australia
– Certificate in Modelling (Leonie Green and Associates). Northern territory Australia
– Diploma of Business management (TAFE Queensland)
– Bachelor of Business Computing (completed 2/3 of subjects)
– Kristin School, High school certificate, University Bursary, (Auckland, NZ)
– Rangoon Institute of Technology (year 1 only Architectural Engineering), Yangon, Myanmar
– Teachers Training College (TTC) High School completion Yangon, Myanmar
Qualifications (Current Studies)
Juris Doctor Bond University (ongoing) completed 50% of this degree Bachelor of Business Computing 1988 Charles Darwin University (75% completed) left due to illness
Bond University, 15 October 2018
by Professor Nick James
Executive Dean, Faculty of Law.
Awards
Awarded ” First in class” for Global Investment & Banking law , Master of Legal Administration and Juris Doctor level law degrees.
Sonya McGuire (visiting lecturer)
with Dr Damien Lockie
Faculty ot Law. Bond University.
“Ms McGuire impresses me as a woman of ambition, with a desire to excel in all her endeavours. I consider Ms McGuire to possess the qualities of mind and character, dedication and readiness of a distinction scholar, and to be one with the will to succeed.
I have no hesitation in recommending her for your mos favourable consideration”
Dr Damien L Lockie
Solicitor & Barrister
Svensons Barristers
Honorary Adjunct Professor | Bond University
Faculty of Law
Membership Associations
Legal and other professional memberships:
-Queensland Law Society
-American Bar Assosiation
– Australasian Legal Practice Management Association (ALPMA) – Member
-Association of Media and Entertainment Law Council (AMEC) – Global legal association
-Screenrights
-Wildlife Tourism Australia
-Screen Producers Association (SPAA)
-Screenworks NSW
-AFI
-French – Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry Association
Previous Experiences
IT Media
– Mother to three sons
– ACIT & IFTV College – CEO & Founder since 1995
– IFTV Studios – CEO & Founder since 2017
“Empowering Women” digital TV productions – Screen Writer, Executive producer, TV Host currently in production development since 2019
– Sonya McGuire Fragrance – Founder & CEO commenced the work in France in 2019
– Creator of ‘tres’ joli’ Fragrance
– IFTV Entertainment digital subscription – in development from 2020
Law
– ACIT & IFTV Group of companies – Corporate legal governance
– Sonya McGuire Enterprises – Corporate legal governance
– Bond University, Faculty of Law – Guest lecturer * International trade and investment law” since 2020
French production
– Digital TV Host in 2019, Cote d’zur, France
Host of Empowering women
– Essence of France on location working with French Fragrance industry digital TV
– Executive producer: Sonya McGuire on location
– Working with French production industry . Shooting Sonya on a new venture of Fragrance creation business
Sonya McGuire Fragrance
– Creation of a new French fragrance ” Tres Jolie” by Sonya McGuire Made in France
– Design and label creation: Sonya McGuire 2021
– Official launch October, November, 2021Gold Coast
Conservation TV and Digital TV
– Executive Producer/Writer /Story development / Marketing : Sonya McGuire
– Cinematography (1) : BIOPIXEL Queensland.
– Post production, digital media videos Editing (1) : IFTV Studios, Gold Coast Queensland
– Sonya McGuire’s Empowering women series currently in development in consultation with conservation industry of AUSTRALIA. In development in 2021
– Episode – Wild Australia
– TI Movie – Saving Wally
Past Careers
– Computer systems analyst and Programmer 1985 – 1990 Northern Territory – Department of Transport and works
– Frances Bay Slipway Darwin NT
– Consultant in I.T education 1992 Bond University, TAFE Qld, Gold Coast Hospital
– Austral Asia Development and Musteq Holdings Sdn Bh Malaysia – Managing director 1998 -1999
– Real estate management – Gold Coast Queensland
– Project management Multi-purpose use – Residential and Commercial High rise Construction design and development
Conferences Attended
Film and Television industry:
– Screen Forever 2021, 2015, 2014 (Sydney, Melbourne, Gold Coast, Australia)
– Screen Producers Association Australia
– American Film Market ( AFM) 2018
– MIPCOM Cannes, France 2018, 2017
– Screenworks NSW 2019, 2021
– Education industry:
Blogs and posts:
– WEBA Education conference – Beijing China 2017 | Zurich Switzerland 2017
– ICEF Education conference – Adelaide Australia 2012| Berlin Germany 2019
– Education Queensland – Brisbane, Cairns
– Study Queensland Government lead export missions – India, Brazil, Japan
Conference Speaker
China:
-World congress – Beijing China | Representative of education ministry of Brazil CONIF Subiect: Science without borders
Brazil:
– Trade and Investment Queensland – for International education and export Sao Paulo Brazil
– Education conference – University of Aracaju, Aracaju Brazil
– Education conference – University of Maceo, Maceo Brazil
– Trade and Investment Queensland – International trade, investment and education Belo HoriZonte Minageraise Brazil
At Vale BHP Billion – group presentation only
India:
Bangalore India
– Trade and Investment Queensland – International trade and education export
– The Delegation was led by Jackie Trad – Deputy Premier of Queensland
Switzerland:
-WEBA – International educationZurich Switzerland
Australia:
– Australian college Information Technology and Institute of Film and television (ACIT & IFTV)
– International agents seminars weekly 2018 – 2020 Queensland, Australia
– Bond University, Faculty of law ” Guest speaker” February 2020, February 2021
– International Trade and Investment Law, Gold Coast Queensland Australia
Sonya McGuire is an Australian with a heritage of Burmese, European, and English descent. She arrived in Australia at the age of 17 as a student from Myanmar. Sonya is an entrepreneur, creative director, presenter, and writer for digital productions and other creative ventures. She is married to Danny McGuire and is a mother of three sons: Jonathan, William, and Christian. She is bilingual, speaking Burmese and English fluently.
With over 30 years of business acumen, Sonya McGuire is the founder and CEO of vocational training colleges. Her personal career has been marked by roles in education, technology, modeling, film production, and beauty products, such as Sonya McGuire Parfumerie.
In the early 1980s, Sonya immigrated to Australia and began her career in technology, studying for a Bachelor of Business Computing at Charles Darwin University. She worked as a systems analyst programmer for the Northern Territory government, Department of Transport and Works, and as a consultant for database design, development, and implementation of management systems, including ship maintenance systems at the Frances Bay Slipway. Her seven years in Darwin provided opportunities in computer education, modeling, and as an information systems programmer.
In 2019, Sonya obtained a law degree majoring in corporate governance and banking and finance, and a Master of Legal Administration (International Business and Finance Law) from Bond University.
Sonya demonstrated her imagination and multi-talented nature from the beginning of her career. She worked as a model and extras in films, and as a consultant and instructor for Charles Darwin University and the Department of Transport and Works as a computer systems programmer.
When she moved to the Gold Coast in 1992, Sonya began a new career as a guest lecturer for Bond University’s Faculty of Information Technology and Gold Coast TAFE, training students in new technologies, software, and database management.
Perceiving a gap in the educational market for specialist industry placement, Sonya founded the Australian College of Information Technology (ACIT) on the Gold Coast in 1993. She expanded to own several registered training organizations (RTOs), including ACIT & IFTV, offering courses in IT, digital media, business diplomas, and advanced diploma courses, providing internships, traineeships, and employment opportunities. The college provides vocational and industry certifications combined with the latest technology, leading to direct employment outcomes for local and international students over the past three decades.
Astute insight has accompanied Sonya McGuire throughout her career. ACIT’s success led to the establishment and expansion of IFTV after acquiring OPTUS VISION TV Station in 1998. The new production house, IFTV Studios, is located in the same location as the college and has been producing digital designs, videos, and short films in Australia and France. IFTV Studios has been working on various projects, including Empowering Women productions in Australia and France since 2019. A digital and short film completed in 2020 helps raise awareness of women and girls in crises. Sonya commenced an empowering women scholarship program for women and girls in crisis in 2019 through her prestigious education college on the Gold Coast.
Understanding the interrelatedness of digital, TV, information technology, telecommunications, and business, Sonya has created a vibrant institution that reaches thousands of students from over 40 countries and serves Australians and employers. Sonya McGuire celebrated 30 years as a successful vocational education provider in 2023.
What comes next? IFTV Studios specializes in web, film + TV development, streaming, platform design, and digital media productions. Located on the Gold Coast in Queensland, Australia, in 2024, Sonya McGuire Enterprises will expand into various industry sectors in research and development, engaging with the industry in areas such as cybersecurity, robotics, and AI for major projects.
As a visionary and entrepreneur, Sonya sees her next step in investing in various enterprises that align with her core values and vision. This includes the creation of online education through cutting-edge documentary-making aimed at enhancing and empowering the lives of women around the world. “Sonya McGuire’s Empowering Women – Essence of France” was filmed and created in France from 2019 to 2020. Sonya is the presenter, writer of the original screenplay, and executive producer.
Sonya has further expanded into the beauty business with “Sonya McGuire Parfumerie” which was born with the vision of bringing beauty to a new level in France. She works with the most experienced noses in France, and her new fragrances are being launched in Australia. Sonya is the founder, owner, and chief designer of all her beauty creations.
Early career in modelling and extras in Film.
Modelling in Darwin, Northern Territory Australia. At subset at Darwin Sailing Club.
Education Provider
Drawing on her significant experience in IT, Sonya founded the Australian College of Information Technology (ACIT) on the Gold Coast in 1995 – a vocational educational institution providing courses in digital technologies and multimedia to international and Australian students. The college partners with technology qiants that define the digital industries includina Microsoft. Cisco Systems. Juniper Networks and VMware. Learn more about the colleges here.
In 1999, Sonya acquired the OPTUS Vision Studios in Brisbane to use as a hands on learning facility and founded a sister college to ACT – the Institute of Film and Television (IFTV). IFTV provides a professional and creative approach to the study of film and televisior covering subjects including screenwriting, cinematography, visual effects, editing and unit production management.
Sonya is passionate about providing quality education and employment outcomes and ACIT & IFTV is recognised as a world leader in vocational traininq. Through her colleges, she has played an important role in shaping modernised, state-of-the-art technology education which encompasses security, networking, engineering, digital media and film and television.
Unlike any other training colleges in Australia, ACIT & IFTV partner with industry leaders to provide highly sought after internship programs designed to give students real world experience. The result is 100% graduate employment over 25 years of operation. The prestigious college is a government registered training organisation that delivers industry approved education to local students and international students from 17 countries.
With 25 years as an education provider, Sonya is highly regarded for her education enterprise and has gained considerable expertise in international export marketing. Since 2012 she has travelled all over the world with state and federal politicians on trade and eaucation export missions. She regularly presents to international delegations on topics around education systems, technology and media. In 2014 she was invited to speak at the World Federation of Colleges and Polytechnics World Congress in Beijing about education and employment of behalf of the Brazilian government organisation, the National Council for the Federal Network of Vocational Institutions (CONIF). She travels constantly to network and collaborate with international agencies. high levels of government law, telecom companies and representatives of international education and film industries.
Education Trade Missions
Queensland Government export missions with Hon.
Premiere of Queensland Campbell Newman – Tokyo, Japan
Meeting with Prime minister of Australia Hon. Malcolm Turnbull